So whether you are into hiking, photography, or just enjoy jaw-dropping landscapes, make sure to add a couple of canyons to your North American itinerary. A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides. “Canyon” comes from the Spanish word el cañon, which means a tube or a pipe. Canyons are typically formed by erosion from the plateau level. Over millions of years, wind, rain and ice erode the softer material forming a deep cleft between the more resistant granite and sandstone areas of the plateau. This process unfolds over millions of years. Essentially, canyons are deep valleys with very steep escarpments. At 277 miles (446 km) long and up to 18 miles (29 km) wide, Arizona’s Grand Canyon is the largest canyon in the US. Plunging 7,900 feet, Hells Canyon in Idaho and Oregon is the deepest canyon on the North American continent. With 70 stunning canyons vying for your attention, it may be difficult to choose which ones to visit. So, here are the 24 most beautiful canyons in the US for you to consider. The canyons on this list cover multiple states and levels of fitness required for visiting them. So whatever your itinerary is and whatever level of activity you wish to engage in, you’ll find a canyon that’s just right for you. The Grand Canyon is so named because of its sheer vastness. As one of the most spectacular sites the world over, there is no way to describe just how wondrous this incredible natural site is. The pride of Arizona, visiting the Grand Canyon is something that everyone should try to do in their lifetime, and there is a reason this gorgeous geological treasure is so incredibly famous and highly visited. All in all, if you’re on the hunt for the best canyons to visit in the US, an obvious choice would be the Grand Canyon — you will never regret a visit here! And if you are looking for a hassle-free, organised adventure, consider the Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas. Alternatively, you can explore the best viewpoints of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in two days. One of the most famous and photographed canyons in the US, Antelope Canyon has become something of an internet sensation. Just typing the location onto Instagram brings up over 600 thousand results! And for a good reason. Antelope Canyon is easily one of the most beautiful canyons in the USA. Located in Northern Arizona on Navajo land, just east of Page, Antelope Canyon is a magnificent slot canyon with tall, winding walls of tall winding walls of red sandstone. It’s a breathtaking structure, and a photographer’s paradise (hence all the Instagram hits!), and the light shining through from above creates a surreal environment and almost supernatural appearance. To explore the canyon properly, you’ll need to book a guided tour as all areas of the canyon are only accessible via a guide. This doesn’t really matter as it’s best to book a guided tour anyway because the guide will be able to tell you more about the fascinating history of the canyon and how it was formed. There are more than enough tours to choose from as visiting the canyon is understandably popular, and you can find tours on popular sites like Get Your Guide or Viator. Part of Grand Canyon East Rim, Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed canyons in the United States. This entire area that includes Antelope Canyon, Glen Canyon and Lake Powell is a photographer’s paradise. The Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Colorado River that you can view from the edge of the 1,000-foot cliff. Set off by the orange-colored rocks of the canyon, the Colorado River takes on a deep emerald hue as it travels around the bend, adding even more drama to an already spectacular landscape. And if you’d rather visit Horseshoe Bend on an organized tour, you can combine it with Antelope Canyon on a day tour from Las Vegas. One of the most unique hikes within the Lees Ferry area of Glen Canyon is the Cathedral Wash hike which is a 3-mile out-and-back hike through a slot canyon.  The hike leads through the slot canyon to the Colorado River and back to the trailhead and includes moderate rock scrambling. The hike isn’t for the faint of heart, and you should definitely ensure that you check the weather before entering the slot canyon as well as pack enough water. If you are looking for an exciting hike or a day trip to add to your trip throughout Utah and Arizona, consider exploring Glen Canyon National Recreation! And if you prefer an organized tour, consider the tour from Las Vegas that takes in the Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon. Oak Creek Canyon is one of the hidden gems of Arizona. When people think of Arizona, they typically immediately remember Grand Canyon, but Oak Creek Canyon remains an undiscovered beauty for many. Oak Creek Canyon runs from Flagstaff to Sedona in Coconino National Forest, so it makes for a great day trip from Flagstaff or Sedona. It is approximately 12 miles long, and the depth of the canyon ranges from 800 to 2000 ft. Even with Arizona’s dry climate, the creek is running the whole year round and therefore, along its banks, there is a lot of greenery and birds. The tall rocks are reflected in the pristine beauty of the water, and closer to Sedona, the surrounding rocks become even more majestic and turn bright red in color. In this area, you will find Sliding Rock State Park, which becomes a summer playground for young and old – here, the creek acts as a fun natural water slide. As you gaze around, all you see are tall, red and pink color stone formations called Hoodoos. This is the only place on Earth with the highest concentration of these geological structures, which makes Bryce Canyon one of the most unique canyons in the USA. Peekaboo and Spooky Slot Canyons are located in deep canyon country, in some of the remotest parts of the country, in Utah’s protected lands. To hike these slot canyons, it’s best to base yourself in the Escalante and explore Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. To see the narrowest part of the canyon, head over to The Narrows. This strenuous hike will have you hiking through the river that has shaped Zion while the canyon walls tower over one thousand feet above you. From the Narrows, you can also take a UTV tour to Crimson Slot Canyon. Dubbed ‘the Grand Canyon of the East’, Letchworth State Park canyon is one of the biggest canyons in the US. It is located on the Western side of New York’s popular Finger Lakes region and is a bona fide hidden gem. Letchworth is home to three impressive waterfalls, endless miles of forest hiking trails and an extraordinary 600 ft deep U-shaped canyon forged by the powerful Genesee River. Imagine Horseshoe Bend in Arizona but replace dusty orange sandstone rocks with grey shale and thousands of vibrantly colored trees. In Autumn, the Letchworth canyon glows with radiant oranges, reds and yellows during the peak Fall foliage season. Summer and Fall are the two best times of year to visit Letchworth when all hiking trails are open, leaves turn, and the park is at its most spectacular. Avid photographers can’t miss one of the most awe-inspiring sunrises in the US from Great Bend Overlook. Looking East, the sun rises directly over a 600 ft abyss, the Genesee River and an ‘island’ formed by a 270 curve in the topography of Letchworth canyon. Letchworth can be visited as part of a week-long New York Finger Lakes road trip, combined with Watkins Glen and the three Ithaca State Parks. Alternatively, fly into nearby Rochester or Buffalo NY and combine with Niagara Falls. As far as beautiful canyons in the USA go, Letchworth State Park may be relatively unknown, but it is most certainly one of the most unique and strikingly attractive. Cascade Canyon is an incredibly beautiful canyon in Grand Teton National Park that you need to hike into.  The canyon is created by a long valley between two of Teton’s peaks, so it is not a conventional canyon that you look down on from the rim.  Instead, you hike up from Jenny Lake, and then walk through the canyon alongside Cascade Creek. The canyon is named after waterfalls that cascade down from melting glaciers at the top of the peaks, which adds even more beauty to the picture. Cascade Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in all of Grand Teton National Park and as long as you are able to hike into it, is not to be missed. There are many gorgeous canyons in the United States, but none is as spectacular as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The canyon is approximately 24 miles long, between 800 and 1,200 ft deep and from .25 to .75 miles wide. Unlike most canyons around the world that are fairly arid, Grand Canyon is home to a river and two waterfalls – the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, measuring 109 ft high and 308 ft high, respectively. The unique features of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone are the result of its complex history. To keep it simple, hydrothermal activities underneath weakened the rock surface, allowing the Yellowstone River to erode away the bedrock. After years of erosion, the canyon deepened and eventually became the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone that you see today. As a matter of fact, the Yellowstone River continues to erode the canyon every day. Because of its massive span, there are plenty of viewpoints to observe the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The most popular viewpoints are the Artist Point and Inspiration Point. Both of these overlook the Lower Falls and the Yellowstone River as it carves down the canyon. Just make sure to check the official Yellowstone National Park site, as the viewpoints are not always open. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is most conveniently reached via the north entrance of the park. From the entrance, it is around a 1.5-hour drive to the canyon. Travelers can also check out other attractions in Yellowstone National Park on the way, such as the intricate Mammoth Hot Springs. Home to a deep, steep canyon, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is the least visited national park in Colorado. Here, you will see only a small fraction of tourists compared to Rocky Mountain National Park, which averages about 4 million visitors a year. This means you can have plenty of space to take in scenic views from many overlooks within this national park. The best time to visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is in summer when the weather is warm enough to spend time outside and enjoy this scenic place. Make sure to check the weather ahead of your trip, as this place is better to visit on a clear sunny day. Chiselled by the powerful Colorado River over hundreds of years, Glenwood Canyon is a striking 16-mile canyon in western Colorado whose walls soar up to 1,300 feet above the river bed. Glenwood Canyon also offers abundant outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, river rafting, natural hot springs and more. Plus, it’s only an hour’s drive from Aspen or Vail. The rewarding hiking trail to Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon is a spectacular must-see. Witness this unique travertine geological formation, then climb a few steps further to a fabulous waterfall called Spouting Rock. You are wise to plan ahead for this challenging hike that requires permits and reservations to delve into this part of the White River National Forest. Whitewater rafting trips along the Colorado River are available for beginners to experienced thrill seekers. Take a full-day or overnight rafting trip with excellent views of Glenwood Canyon. The perfect way to top off your outdoorsy adventures is to stay at Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge. Families have been visiting these iconic mineral-rich waters for over one hundred years. A sweet pedestrian bridge ferries you downtown for restaurants and shopping. Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America. Carved by the mighty Snake River, its winding course delineates the Oregon-Idaho border. North America’s largest canyon, Hells Canyon, is remote, desolate, and hundreds of miles from the trodden tourist trails. But if you’re not afraid to put in a little extra effort, it is an unforgettable place to visit. Hells Canyon’s immensity can be deceiving. At its widest, the canyon extends 10 miles. Its walls tally 7,913 vertical feet —nearly 2,000 feet more than those of Arizona’s Grand Canyon. Early pioneers named the canyon for its inhospitable terrain. Due to its rattlesnakes, rugged topography and oppressive heat, Hells Canyon was once an obstacle on the path of westward migration across the US.  Even today, Hells Canyon can be a challenging place to visit. Its access roads are largely unpaved and indirect. Getting from one viewpoint to another can be a time-consuming ordeal. Alaska’s dramatic Keystone Canyon does not fall within any of the state’s 8 National Parks. It is located 12 miles east of Valdez, 299 miles from Anchorage. Keystone Canyon is a dramatically narrow canyon with almost vertical walls over 600ft tall. It is just wide enough for Lowe River and Richardson Highway to pass through its entire length, which is 3 miles from beginning to end. There are different ways to explore the canyon. You can drive through it, admiring roadside attractions like the Bridal Veil and Horsetail falls that drop several hundred feet along the steep walls of the canyon and flow into the Lowe River. If you visit in March or April, keep an eye out for the mountain goats along the west end of the canyon on the southern wall. You can hike the Valdez Wagon and Goat Trail, which runs through the canyon above the highway. Or, for a more adrenalin-filled adventure, you can go rafting or kayaking through the canyon. Lost Canyon is one of the unique destinations to visit in Wisconsin. It is a canyon with a wild west feel and adventure. If you want to have such an experience without going to the west, Lost Canyon in Wisconsin Dells is the perfect place. The adventurous place is the deepest and longest canyon in the state of Wisconsin, and it also has a romantic feel, which makes it distinct from others. There is more to Lost Canyon than what you can see or read online. The remarkable canyon offers the visitors to enjoy horse and buggy rides and experience adventure. The horse-drawn carriage tour lasts for 15-20 minutes and can hold 10-16 people. On the tour, you will go through such narrow passageways that the guides have to coax the horses through these narrow lanes. The canyon even has some places where there is no source of sunlight. That means you will enter a place where there has been no warmth of the sun for the last 50,000 years. The canyon is situated on the south shore of Lake Delton. So, apart from spending time in the canyon, there are plenty of other things to enjoy in the area. It is a perfect destination for family trips, even for big families. There are some of the best Airbnbs in Wisconsin Dells where you can have a great stay after exploring the canyon. As one of Nevada’s best-kept secrets hidden deep in the Mojave desert, Red Rock Canyon is one of the most striking canyons in the United States and one of the best destinations to visit if you’re up for diving head-first into an adventure. Not only is this magical slice of desert paradise still a bit of a hidden gem but it’s also located just 30 minutes west of Las Vegas, which makes for a perfect day trip to escape the bustle and hustle of Sin City. You can even hire an electric bike for your trip to be closer to the elements. For over 600 million years, the canyon has transformed from an ocean basin into a desert. In combination with the harsh environment of the Mojave, it has shaped into a dramatically beautiful landscape made up of bright-red sandstone rock (hence the name!), as well as insane-looking rock formations, cliffs, and buttes that look as though they’re piercing the sky. You could also go on a jeep tour that will take you into the canyon and on more adventurous tracks. Horseback riding is another great option to truly get to know the area from a unique perspective. There are tours available even for complete beginners, so there’s something for everyone. Definitely add Palo Duro to your list of best canyons in the United States. Tallulah Gorge is one of the most beautiful canyons in the Eastern United States and a must-see on any trip to North Georgia. The gorge features numerous trails, waterfalls, and recreational opportunities that are great for all ages. For beginners or kids, you can hike around the entire rim of Tallulah Gorge. These North and South Rim trails are easy hikes. You’ll have ten different overlooks into the gorge, including the spectacular Overlook #3 which has a direct view of L’eau D’or (pronounced Ladore) Falls. The South Rim’s best overlook is #6 with a view directly down the length of the entire gorge. #6 also features a great place to picnic with the family. For example, there’s a huge canyon on one of the main Hawaiian Islands – Kauai – called Waimea. It’s known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. In a true tropical fashion, unlike the Grand Canyon, Waimea Canyon is covered in green foliage, incredible waterfalls, reddish tropical cliffs, and mesmerizing scenery. It’s smaller than its Arizona cousin as well, stretching just 14 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep. The name “Waimea” means “reddish water”, and it is a reference to the red soil of the canyon. There are a lot of things you can do at the Waimea Canyon, both for those who like and don’t like physical activities. You can drive to different lookouts and enjoy the Waimea Canyon from different angles. There’s the official Waimea Canyon lookout which makes you really feel the grandeur of the canyon, as well as Puu Ka Pele and Puu Hinahina Lookouts. There are some hikes for everyone as well. You can choose from easy and short walks like the Cliff walk, which will only take you one hour to complete and will offer some nice views at the end, or do some more straining ones like the Kukui Trail – 3 and a half hours long and with 2000 feet drop in elevation. I hope this post inspired you to add at least one canyon to your US itinerary and gave you enough information to plan your visit. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Affiliate Notice This website uses affiliate links, meaning that, at no cost to you, I may earn a commission if you make a booking through the links to Amazon, Booking.com and Get Your Guide. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. 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